Annual Report 2021

We all faced a second year full of challenges and adversity in 2021. Changing public health measures and concern over COVID-19 variants, tested us as individuals and a community. In the face of these challenges the team at CCC knew that we needed to be a source of certainty, trust, and reliability for the people we serve. We were also focused on reducing the distress and uncertainty for our staff. We made the decision to keep staff working remotely in 2021 regardless of how other businesses and organizations in the city were operating. This provided stability, certainty and clarity for staff and our clients greatly reducing stress and anxiety.

In 2021, we delivered over 47,700 hours of counselling to people struggling with a variety of mental health problems. Our clients presented with anxiety, depression, stress, relationship problems, grief, and trauma, to name a few. Although more people than ever came to us for help, we were well equipped to serve the needs of our clients, consolidating all we learned from 2020 and further enhancing our work with clients through online platforms.

Some highlights of 2021 that allowed us to elevate our ability to serve our clients and community, include:

• In 2021 we received the Centre’s first formal 3–year accreditation from the Canadian Accreditation Council. Our Brief Intervention Caregiver Support Program (BICS) also received accreditation. This was the first time any agency has received a three-year accreditation at their first application.
• Thanks to an investment from the Calgary Foundation, we developed a fully electronic onboarding and orientation system to engage and guide all new employees and students joining the Centre, helping new staff feel part of the culture even though they were working remotely
• Our pivot to digital service was so remarkable that Microsoft featured it in a Microsoft Industry Blog and video.
• We began a two-year engagement with Veterans Affairs Canada to train and coach Clinicians working at Occupational Stress Injury clinics across the country in the use of the OQ–45 and Feedback Informed Treatment. This training will enhance the outcomes of Veterans Affairs Canada clients.
• Our Director of Counselling Initiatives, Cathy Keough received the 2020 Commitment to Person-Centered Practice Award through the Bhayana Foundation, the premier national awards program for excellence in the human services sector.
• We began doing our research to develop a strategy for equity, diversity, and inclusion, ensuring that our value of inclusion is both felt and experienced by all staff and clients.

All of these accomplishments are possible because of the strength and commitment of the team at CCC. On behalf of myself and the CCC Senior Leadership Team, I want to thank our staff, students, and volunteers for their dedication, flexibility, and passion for service. I feel very fortunate to work with such a dedicated team that give so much of themselves to help our clients.

The support of our Board and the generosity of our funders, donors and community was key in our ability to serve more clients than ever before without a wait list or financial barriers.

Life comes with challenges — we will inevitably experience more difficult times as individuals, families, and a community, but we can promise that as we move into our 60th year, whatever our community may face in the future, we will be there.